Kids packing themselves. Wait, what?!?

Yes, you read that correctly.  After about a year of practice, the kids finally successfully packed themselves for an overnight.  I’m ready to declare this a parenting win.

I mean, they needed a list, but other than that it was out-of-my-hands.

As a family, we go on quite a few overnights.  Visiting family and friends ranks high on our priority list and we are lucky to be able to visit some beautiful places that fill our souls and give us some quality family time away from the chores of home. However, this means that we *ahem* (I) do a lot of packing.  I’m pretty organized with it and am so used to it that it isn’t that challenging, but getting two to-do lists off my hands is amazing.  Last year I started giving the kids packing lists and sitting with them in their rooms helping them read the list and check off the items.  At the time I wondered if I was crazy, but good word has this paid off!

We took a quick trip to Grandma and Papa’s this past Saturday afternoon so the kids didn’t need much and I knew we wouldn’t be up a creek without a paddle if they missed something.  So I handed over the lists and let them be.  Stella packed up pretty quickly and was proud of her accomplishment.  At 8 years old, I was fairly certain she was up to the task.

 

Tucker, on the other hand, was left to pack up with his Dad (who also maybe needs a list?) while I ran errands.  I came back and his pack was ready to go.  Of course I WANTED to check his bag.   I asked him if he had packed everything and he very confidently told me he “followed the list”.  I reluctantly let it go, knowing that if he forgot something lessons would hopefully be learned.

And gladly no lessons need to be learned.  They had everything they needed and what’s more: they managed their belongings the whole time they were there.  Since they knew what they packed, they knew what was available to them and what to look for so they went to get it themselves.  I’ll call it “Pride of Ownership”.

I’ll also call it “Score 1 for Mom”.

Would you let your kids pack their own bags?  Have you let them do it with funny or disastrous outcomes?  I’d love to hear, please leave a comment below!

Health and Happiness,

Cerissa